France chaired the Leading Group during the first half of 2009. Please find here all documents and information related to the French presidency, as well as to the Sixth plenary meeting held in Paris on May 28th and 29th 2009.

Side by Side with the Leading Group

Japan’s official participation in the activities of the Leading Group started in November 2008, at the Group’s 5th plenary meeting. I represented Japan at the 6th plenary meeting in May 2009, where there was a sense of growing international interest in innovative financing, as the senior-level participants from a number of countries and organizations engaged in animated discussions with each other.

The world is now facing a global economic and financial crisis that is said to occur only once a century. Its impacts on the vulnerable population in developing countries are particularly devastating, threatening to wipe out the gains that we have made so far towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. And the seriousness of the current financial crisis makes the discussions and ideas on resource mobilization for development in the international community all the more relevant.

I sincerely hope that continued lively discussions in the Leading Group will contribute to achieving internationally agreed development goals. For its part, Japan looks forward to exchanging information and experiences about various financing mechanisms with the other participating countries and organizations in the Group’s activities.